Techniques for establishing a dynamic ad-hoc wireless network are disclosed. A node transitions between wake and sleep modes during periods defined as beacon intervals. Before a network connection is established and while it is awake, the node transmits network connection request and also listens for network activity. If a beacon or response message is not detected while the node is listening, the node enters sleep mode and thereby conserves power. The node optionally changes the duration of its detection period and/or the time at which it listens for network activity relative to the start of each beacon interval. Information elements are optionally included with transmitted beacons or response messages.

Claims

26 · 2 independent · depth 3

26 granted claims

›1.independentA method of establishing a wireless ad-hoc network connection, the method comprising:ndefining a beacon interval at a first node, said beacon interval…+12

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein during said sleep mode said first node does not detect or send network connection requests.d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1 further comprising:ndefining a monitoring period spanning an integral number of beacon intervals; andextending a duration of sai…d2

›4.↳ 1The method of claim 1 further comprising:nestablishing a network connection with said second node upon detecting said network connection request from …d2+2

›7.↳ 1The method of claim 1 further comprising:ndetecting an acknowledgment message from said second node responsive to said network connection request of s…d2+1

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein a duration of said second subinterval is at least 90% of the duration of said beacon interval.d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1, further comprising:ndefining a monitoring period, said monitoring period including an integral number of beacon intervals;where…d2+3

›14.independentA device adapted to participate in a wireless ad-hoc network, the device comprising:na controller configured to define a beacon interval of the device…+12

›15.↳ 14The device of claim 14 wherein during said sleep mode the device does not detect or send network connection requests.d2

›16.↳ 14The device of claim 14 wherein said controller is further configured to define a monitoring period spanning an integral number of beacon intervals, an…d2

›17.↳ 14The device of claim 14 wherein said controller is further configured to establish a network connection with said second device upon detecting said net…d2+2

›20.↳ 14The device of claim 14 wherein said controller is further configured to detect an acknowledgment message from said second device responsive to said ne…d2+1

›22.↳ 14The device of claim 14 wherein a duration of said second subinterval is at least 90% of a duration of said beacon interval.d2

›23.↳ 14The device of claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to define a monitoring period spanning an integral number of beacon intervals;nw…d2+3

Classifications

3 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section H — Electricity

H04L12/26
H04J3/14

USPC · US Patent Classification

370/332

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Pendency

4.7 y

1,706 days filing → grant

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after a restriction

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2 RCE

Examiner

Raj Jain

art unit 2472 · TC 2400

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Priority chain

1 priority documents

Priority

16 Oct 2006

earliest claimed

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
provisional	US 60829594	16 Oct 2006

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